COMMENTS

exchange rate error in your favour!

--> US prices start at $1299. In the UK, prices kick off at £699

At current exchange rates, £699 = $1394. Considering that £699 is inclusive of VAT and that quoted US prices don't include sales tax, the ex-VAT price is £595 / $1190...which is cheaper than the US price!?!?

I suspect that the person setting prices at Dell won't be getting a job offer from Microsoft any time soon...

RE: HDMI - but no Blu Ray

Ports on a MOBO are hard to change but an optical drive is something usually plug and play for makers. That means dell is probably setting this laptop up to last a year or two and just offer whichever format seems to be winning.